2 minute read
LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
Part of the allure and charm of Missoula is exploring town like a local, any time of year. It’s an adventure in and of itself, because Missoula is like no other place on earth. It’s just that special.
MISSOULA, MONTANA: 2022’s Happiest Cities in America.
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ENJOY FIRST FRIDAYS
This year-round art walk has Missoulians strolling downtown streets the first Friday of the month as galleries and shops open their doors for art viewing, artist meet and greets, and food, drinks and music.
LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC
Missoula’s live music scene is quickly topping the charts as one of the best in the West. Local musicians and national acts sell out venues big and small all year long.
SURF THE RIVER
River surfers and kayakers ride and play at Missoula’s manmade Brennan’s Wave near Caras Park. Rent a board or boat from a local gear shop to join the spectacle or watch the action from the riverbank or the observation deck.
SKI & BIKE THE BOWL
In Missoula’s backyard, Montana Snowbowl ski area combines deep powder and diverse runs with some of the best wood-fired pizza and bloody marys in the region. And if you like mountain biking, SnowBowl offers chairlift rides in the summer for bikers to cruise down the mountain!
SHOP SATURDAY MARKETS
Stock up on produce, fresh flowers, baked goods and the sounds of local street musicians at the Missoula Farmers Market. Nearby, find local artisans offering Made in Montana arts and crafts at the Missoula Peoples Market, and make your way to the Clark Fork Market for fresh produce, pastries, breads, homemade jams and locally sourced meats and cheeses.
EXPLORE THE WILDERNESS
Only minutes from town, Pattee Canyon, Blue Mountain and the Rattlesnake recreation areas offer mountain biking, hiking and fresh mountain air—especially lovely in winter when Montana transforms into a wonderland of snow. Enter designated wilderness only 15 miles off the main trailhead in the Rattlesnake.
FLOAT THE RIVER
Missoula is a river town, and that is most apparent when the temperatures climb and hundreds head to the water, inner tubes in hand. Pack a cooler (rig it to your tube so you won’t lose it) and make a day of it.
GO OUT TO LUNCH OR DINE DOWNTOWN TONIGHT
Locals gather for food truck fare and live music at Missoula’s signature summer events—Out to Lunch on Wednesdays and Downtown Tonight on Thursdays, both free at Caras Park all summer.
GET ON THE BEATEN PATH
The city’s extraordinary pathway system travels throughout Missoula and also connects to the Kim Williams Nature Trail. You can even bike 50 miles from Missoula to Hamilton on the Bitterroot Trail. During winter, hit the trails on your fat bike, snowshoes or cross-country skis.
DRINK LOCAL
Missoula has so many breweries we lost count, and every last one of them is worth a visit. Serving up local favorites and award-winning brews, even the most highbrow beer nerds will find something they love. Distilleries, wineries and cideries? We’ve got those, too.
EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Missoula is brimming with delicious, local food, whether you’re looking for 5-star dining or food truck fare on-the-go. And when we say local, we really mean it—countless restaurants in Missoula pride themselves on sourcing their ingredients from local farmers and ranchers.
